Why ’12th Fail’ is a Wake-Up Call for the Education System in India

12th Fail

Failure is not the opposite of success; it is a part of success.” – Arianna Huffington

For long, the Indian education system has been a double-edged sword. It has facilitated millions to rise from obscurity and carve out a better life for themselves. On the other hand, it has also made education a ruthless, high-pressure experience for students, where they often feel burnt out, anxious, and overwhelmed with their expectations. 12th fail full movie is a 2023 film set on the true-life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and does deep diving into these social pressures, taking it beyond an individual’s story to the emotional and psychological journey of thousands of children in India.

If you haven’t seen this poignant yet inspiring tale yet, the Watcho app is streaming it. Be prepared to step into a story far removed from the ordinary. But first, let’s talk about why this film is quite literally a wake-up call for the education system in India.

The Reality Behind ’12th Fail’

Set against the somber background of Chambal and Delhi, the 12th fail full movie is the tale of Manoj Kumar Sharma a helpless family who wants to be an IPS officer one day. The film is an emotional battle and the reality that comes with the journey of the students who aspire to take competitive examinations in India.

While this indeed is quite an inspiring underdog story, it is also a rather brutal reflection of a system that sets children up to fail instead of succeed. Here is why this film resonated so strongly and will turn out to be such a wake-up call for the education system in India:

1. Pressure Cooker Environment

The story of Manoj in 12th fail full movie in Hindi is one many can relate to. He is thrust into the world of cut-throat competition and high expectations from a pretty young age. Be it admission to a ‘decent’ college or clearing 12th exams or cracking UPSC students are made to believe that their entire future hangs in the balance of just one exam.

Did you know? The National Crime Records Bureau records over 10,000 student suicides every year in India, and most are due to academic pressure.

In 12th Fail, the hero of the story, Manoj, fails in his 12th exams not because he has not tried enough but because of a system that accommodates cheating. This is yet another deeper issue of pressure to perform at any cost for which students are put. And when they fail it’s more often than not considered as their failure and not the system’s.

2. The Dark Side of Coaching Centres

The coaching industry in India is a multi-billion-dollar sector that thrives on the dreams and ambitions of young students. A majority of students rush to the coaching institutes, some of which charge exorbitant fees, hoping for premier institutions or cracking high-stakes exams like the UPSC.

In the 12th fail full movie in Hindi, the protagonists are matched in a world full of coaching centers. The film reveals the toxic nature of this competitive coaching world, where success is pretty much determined by resources as opposed to talent.

Fun Fact: The coaching industry for exams like the UPSC is reportedly worth over ₹1,000 crores. Ironically, many students waste years and years with coaching going through these exams without being successful.

This is not only a matter of performance pressure, but also the issue of how coaching centers, at times, commodify dreams from students. Why does the system need to manufacture an “elite” group of students instead of nurturing talents all over society? 12th Fail raises this critical issue; we cannot turn a blind eye to the flaws in the system anymore.

3. Emotional and Psychological Consequences

The largest takeaway from 12th Fail is the emotional costs of failure and pressure on students. This is not a story about the academic struggle; it’s far more about the inner turmoil through which he breaks down and ultimately grows. The film does a great job showing his struggles with identity, self-worth, and perseverance.

The sad reality is that the academia measures a student based solely on his academics, rendering him inadequate if he is unable to deliver it. Mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress, are very common among Indian students, but there is a very serious lack of mental health support.

Shocking Fact: Mental health disorders are rarely discussed in the context of academic pressures, however. 

12th Fail reminds Manoj that success does not justify the entity. The film showed that it is all right to fail, and, so often, failure makes no one a lesser person; often, it’s the stepping stone to greater success. This much the Indian education system should learn: emotional and mental well-being are taken as lightly as their pursuit of academic excellence.

4. Success Is Not Always A Linear Process

What the movie essentially teaches us at its core is that success is not linear. Manoj’s journey to becoming an IPS officer was not smooth; it was riddled with failure and personal setbacks. In fact, every failure became an opportunity and a lesson for him; every setback somehow made him stronger than before.

Success for students in India is a myth: clear your exams, get a good job, and live happily ever after. But life is nothing like that. 12th Fail is one of the Hotstar movies that breaks this myth and shows that life is unpredictable, and success comes to those who keep trying despite the odds.

Stream 12th Fail on Watcho!

12th Fail is not only a film, but it is a movement to reform the system so that students with diversified talents and aptitudes are taken care of. The education system in India needs an overhauling process; making it shift from just competition to holistic development reducing pressure on the young minds of students and making diverse career paths, which should help young minds pursue their goals in all walks of life.

Even as we sit here pondering the deliverables of 12th Fail, we can’t help but note how much this film is actually a wake-up call. So, if you haven’t watched the film yet, stream Hotstar movies now from the Watcho app because, trust us, its story will haunt you long after the end.

Remember, the one that fails doesn’t become a failure but is part of the process—learn from it and move on.

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